How to use Google Assistant to watch TV

“OK Google, play season three of Stranger Things on Netflix”

Google Assistant can do many things, including answering your questions, checking your calendar for appointments, and playing your music though your Google Home speaker.

One of its best features is the ability to control your TV, whether you’re tucking into your favorite Netflix series or watching a film you rented through Google Play.

You can play and control your TV with either the Chromecast dongle or built-in Chromecast software, giving commands to your smartphone, tablet, or Google Home speaker – and if you have an Android TV, Google Assistant comes built-in to your set directly, allowing you to give the voice assistant commands through your remote control.

While these features are incredibly useful, it can be tricky to know which features and services support Google Assistant voice commands. To make your life easier, we’ve put together this handy guide to watching TV with the super smart AI assistant.

Which streaming platforms work with Google Assistant?

Right now, you can control playback on the following services with Google Assistant: Netflix, CW, CBS All Access, HBO Now, YouTube TV, Wiki, Crackle, Red Bull, STARZ, and Google Play Movies & TV.

(Image credit: William Potter / Shutterstock.com)

What do I need to watch TV with Google Assistant?

There are a few different ways you can control your TV with Google Assistant, including using an Android TV, getting a Google Chromecast dongle, and buying a TV with Chromecast built-in.

Which method you use will largely depend on your budget, and how many additional steps you’re willing to go through to get Google Assistant to play your TV shows and films.

An example Android TV interface.

(Image credit: Sony)

Watch on an Android TV

The simplest way to use Google Assistant to control your TV playback is to use an Android TV with Google Assistant built right into it, saving you from buying additional devices like the Google Chromecast.

Depending on the model, you should be able to speak directly into your remote control to give Google Assistant commands; if your remote control doesn’t have a microphone, you’ll have to give these commands to the Google Assistant built into your smartphone, or a Google Home speaker.

As well as asking Google Assistant things like “Play Stranger Things on TV”, you can also turn your Android TV on and off, open apps like Netflix and YouTube, and play, pause, resume, and stop the playback.

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Use Google Assistant with Chromecast

Now in its third generation, Chromecast works by hooking directly into the HDMI port on the back of your TV, drawing power from its USB port and can then act as a receiver for streaming video links sent from your phone or tablet.

The magic happens when you press the Google Cast button that’s built into most streaming video apps which sends a link to the Chromecast and immediately starts streaming. It’s an incredibly intuitive system when you use it, and circumvents the need for a discrete remote control.

Chromecast works really well with Google Home speakers; simply say things like “OK Google, play the latest episode of Orange Is The New Black on Chromecast”, and away you go.

Some Roku streaming sticks like the Roku Premiere and Roku Premiere+ come with Chromecast built-in, so you can use these devices in the same way.

These days you can also get TVs with Google Chromecast built-in, so you don’t have to buy an additional dongle. Simply use your phone or smart speaker to give your TV voice commands; you can find TVs with built-in Chromecast from brands like Sharp, Vizio, Sony, Toshiba, Philips, Polaroid, Skyworth, and Soniq.

It’s worth noting that you can’t request specific episodes with Chromecast; for example, you can say “OK Google, watch The Crown on TV" or “Watch The Crown on Netflix on TV”, but not “Play episode 1 of The Crown on TV”.